Water heater



April 25, 1939- J. c. ASHERRICK 2,155,567

WATER HEATER lFiled Maron 10, i957 jbl/W, KX

j Wwwfwga (1R/wm Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in water heaters, the object thereof being to provide a watermheater of novel construction and mounting and adapted to be pivotally moved into and out of cooperation with the burner or burners of a cooking range or hot-plate. The heating of water in an automobile trail-er in any considerable quantity is a diiiicult and often impossible matter with the use of present equipment. In trailer equipment, or small motor boats, it is customary to provide hot-plates containing one or more burners operated by hydrocarbon fuel, and hot water is usually obtained by placing water in a kettle or vessel positioned over such burners. Usually the quantity of hot water so obtained is insufficient for many uses, particularly bathing, and it is therefore one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a compact and pivotally mounted heater unit which may be swung into and out of cooperation with the fuel burner of the hot plate for the purpose of efficiently heating water in relatively large quantities, as desired, and wherein the heater unit when not in use will be out of the way in order to permit of full and unobstructed use of the burners of the hot-plate or cooking range.

It is another object of the invention to so construct the water heating unit that the same will possess high thermal eiciency in the matter of heat exchange between the water or other uid undergoing heating and the external gaseous heating medium, and further, to construct the heater unit so that excess or waste heat may be utilized for other purposes.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a heater of the above character wherein an improved swivel joint is provided for the mounting of the heater unit to permit of its swinging movement from operative to inoperative positionsand wherein leakage of water or other fluid through the joint is effectively precluded.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View disclosing the im proved water heater comprising the present vinvention in its elevated or inactive position with respect to an associated burner. l

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View disclosing the heater mechanism in its lowered or active position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 2 and disclosing more particularly the swivel joint for pivotally mounting the water heater.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a somewhat modied form of the invention wherein the heater is adapted for turning movement about a subi stantially Vertical axis.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates a two-burner hot-plate or cooking range of the type customarily employed in automobile trailers, small motor boats or the like, while the numeral 2 indicates the improved pivotally movable hot water heater comprising the present invention.

In the specic form of my invention herein disclosed, the said heater comprises a metallic casing 3 in which is arranged in spiral ascending order the convolutions of a water heating coil 4, the upper and lower banks of said convclutions, as shown in Fig. 2, being separated by spacers 5. Water enters the coil by way of a pipe 6 connected with or forming a part of the lowermost convolution of the coil and is discharged from the coil by a pipe 'I connected with or forming a part of the uppermost convolution of the coil. By the arrangementv of the coil disclosed in Fig. 2,'a great number of linear feet of coil may be vcompactly assembled Within the confines of the circular casing 3 in such manner as to provide for the free and uninterrupted passage of the heating fluid or gas over the outer surfaces of the coil, to the end of obtaining good heat transfer between the external heating medium and the water or other uid circulating through the coil and at the same time to permit the heated water to pass upwardly toward higher portions of the coil as its temperature rises. As the outlet pipe 'I is arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane as the upper convolution of the coil, the circulation of water througn the coil is uniform and unimpeded, as the heated Water or steam is constantly moving in an upward direction.`

The center of the casing 3 includes a collar 8, at the lower end of which is arranged a deflector plate 9, the latter being situated axially of the burner I0 of the range I when the heater is actively positioned.' The presence of the plate 9 serves to spread the flame of the burner and the heated gases resulting from such flame toward the coil causing the gases' to pass over the external surfaces of the coil in an orderly and progressive manner to provide for the required heat transfer.' The top wall II of the casing is provided with a series of openings I2, as shown in Fig. 3, so that unutilized heat issuing from the top of the heater may be employed for other heating purposes, such as by placing a cooking utensil on the top of the heater, the wall II being provided with radial ribs I3, which provide a horizontal surface upon which such a cooking utensil may be deposited. The lower convolutions of the coil are. supported by spaced radial straps I4, suitably carried by the casing.

The pipes 6 and l extend in parallel relation and have their ends secured in elbow fittings I5. Each of these fittings is connected with the tapering threads I6 of a tubular member I1, the longitudinal axis of each of these members being perpendicularly disposed with respect to that of either of the pipes 6 or 1. The members I1 are rotatably mounted in stationary bearings I8 and have their outer ends received within tubular rfittings I9 which are stationarily threaded upon Ystationary water conducting pipes 20.

The adjoining ends of the members I'I and the fittings I9 are provided with annular shoulders between which is arranged a packing 2l. Midway of its length, each of the fittings I9 is externally threaded as at 22 for the reception of clamping and locking nuts 24 which retain a washer 25 in fluid-tight engagement with the end of each of the fittings I9. By the use of this construction, the heater unit may turn bodily about the longitudinal axis of the tubular members I1, since the latter are received within the bearings I8 and are free to turn within the pipe carried fittings The manipulation of the heater may be conveniently effected by the provision of a handle construction which comprises spaced side bars 26, the latter having their inner ends formed with openings for the reception of the tubular members I1, the said side bars being positioned on said tubular members between the elbow fittings I5 and the'bearings I8. The outer ends of the bars 26 curve inwardly and are connected with a cross rod 21. By grasping this rod manually, the heater unit may be conveniently rocked from one position to another. The side bars 26 are suitably secured tothe casing 3 of the heating coil and likewise the said side bars are further vprovided with hooks 28 which engage the inlet and outlet pipes 6 and I of the coil. When the heater unit is in its inactive or elevated position,

as disclosed in Fig. 1, the cross rod 2l engages with a spring clamp 29 which serves to positively retain the heater in its elevated position. T'he pipes 20 preferably `extend to a water storage tank (not shown) so that thermal circulation of the water from the heating unit to said storage tank is obtainable. It will be appreciated that if desired, the water heater may swing about a substantially vertical axis, in lieu of a horizontal axis, and in Fig. 5, a mounting providing for the swinging of the heater about a vertical axis has ferent.

been disclosed.

In this form of the invention, the casing 3 is Y the same as that illustrated in the preferred form, but the frame 30 for supporting the same is dif- The feed pipes 3| extend vertically and the bearings I8 are positioned in vertical registration with one another andthe pipes 3I. Use is also made in this form, of thesame swivel connections as are used in the preferred form of the invention and the inlet and outlet pipes 6o: and Ia are bent to cause the free ends thereof to register with the swivel connections. The frame 3D consists of a flat bar which is secured at one end to the casing and has its opposite end supported in connection with a brace rod extend- In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, compact and efficient hot water heater for use in association with various types of cooking stoves. The heater has the advantage that when the same is not in use, it may be moved to an inactive position completely out of the way of the associated stove so that the latter may be used in a normal manner. When in active use, the heater is swung downwardly so that it rests on the top of the stove in registration with one of the burners of the latter. The heat derived from such a burner is suil'icientrto effect the proper heating of the water passing through the coil of the heater and also to permit excess heat to be employed for other utilitarian purposes. It will be observed that the water heater is so mounted that while swinging movement thereof is permitted, yet the construction of the swivel joints providing for this swinging movement is such as to effectively prevent the escape of water through the joints. The heater is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install and its use is one of great convenience in connection with vehicles ofy v.

the type indicated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a swingable water heater, a head comprising a casing, a coil arranged within said casing and including upper and lower banks of ascending convolutions, separators disposed between said banks, and a deflector plate arranged in `the center of said casing on the lower side thereof and serving to direct heat toward said coil, said casing being perforated to provide for the passage of heat therethrough.

2. In a water heater having a water heating head, inlet and outlet pipes joined with said head and swivel joints uniting said pipes with stationary water circulating means, a handle connected with said head for facilitating rocking movement thereof about the common axis of said swivel joints, and means cooperative with said handle for positively retaining said heater in an inactive position.

3. In a water heater adapted to be connected with a pair of spaced axially aligned pipe sections, a frame having spaced arm members mounted at one end for pivotal movement about the axis of said pipe sections, a hand grip joining the opposite ends of said arm members, an inverted panlike casing secured to the intermediate portions of said arms, and a water-receiving coil disposed within said casing and having the inlet and outlet ends thereof joined by means of swivel connections with said pipe sections.

4. In a water heater formed for attachment to a pair of spaced axially aligned supply pipe sections, a water-receiving head having upper and lower banks of ascending spirally arranged convolutions, inlet and outlet pipes'extending laterally from said head, swivel connections uniting the free ends of said inlet and outlet with said supply pipes, and a heat collecting casing disposed over said water-receiving head, said casing including concentric inner and outer side walls,

a top wall connected with the upper edges of Y said outer and inner side walls and inclined toward the latter, and a deilector plate engaging the lower edge of said inner Wall and serving to deflect heat into said casing, the top wall being provided with openings to provide for restricted passage of heat therethrough.

JESS C. SHERRICK. 

